Thumbtack helped me locate an amazingly OUTSTANDING piano teacher. (Yale graduateSK) is not only a talented/award-winning pianist himself but as a teacher he’s incredibly observant and wants to help each and every student achieve his/her best possible playing. He’s extremely patient and insists on ssllloowwiinnggg everything down until the music sounds correct. And along the way he’s humorous making the lesson enjoyable too.
Philadelphia/Online Piano With Yale Graduate
- 32 hires
- Based in Philadelphia, PA
- 6 years in business
- 1 employee
- Background checked
About Philadelphia/Online Piano With Yale Graduate
ENJOY A FREE TRIAL LESSON I CAN GIVE YOU THE TOOLS TO LEAP YOUR PLAYING FORWARD, AT ANY LEVEL, OR, IF YOU ARE READY, PREPARE YOU FOR A JUILLIARD AUDITION. Understandably, most people feel somewhat lost looking for a piano teacher. Almost every instructor claims to have studied with a famous teacher, many have performed in various parts of the world, and some may be acquainted with a few musical celebrities. All mention their broad experience in teaching. How can a person tell if a teacher is worth working with? I have, of course, been a student myself, and have made some good decisions, and some bad ones, regarding the choice of a teacher, and I know what makes the difference. My goal is to help every student significantly improve their musical facility and enjoyment. It is important to me that students don’t lose the hope of becoming excellent, not just OK, when it comes to playing piano. This is not to say I want all my students to have a music career, but I want them to feel content and satisfied when they play for themselves and others. Here is how I am different from other teachers: - I have performed solo, with orchestras, and as an accompanist on three different continents. Even though my career was on an upward trajectory, I decided to settle in Philadelphia and for some time to focus on building a sense of permanence where I live. I would be the first person to say “Those who can - do, those who can’t - teach”. I try to make sure that I myself grow continually as a musician in a broad sense of the word. In a nutshell, you will be dealing with someone who actually makes music, rather than theorizes about how to make it. - Every teacher says that they have an individual approach to every student. I am sure this is true, yet the question is how far a teacher is willing to go in this customization. With my students, if a particular method is not working, we will try every possible technique or approach available until we succeed. As long as a student puts time into practice on a regular basis, I will constantly be working on maximizing the efficiency of both the repertoire and theory aspects of every lesson, to make sure we progress. You will be working with someone who can teach the basic as well as the most advanced piano repertoire that exists. - A student might falsely assume the teacher’s level doesn’t matter in the beginning of their studies. The difference, however, is in knowing not just how something is usually done but rather WHY it is done this way. This is crucial if one wants to have a deep understanding of the piano performance, even in the very beginning. With my students I try to go deep, but make it easy in the end. Music playing should be fun, but you can’t make it fun if the progress is superficial. - I have studied in three different countries, and at very famous institutions (Moscow Conservatory, Yale School of Music, Frankfurt Musik Hochschule). This allows me to have a broad perspective on piano playing and pedagogy. -Last but not least, I only started to play piano seriously when I was 14. Everyone knows it is hard to start late, and I had a lot of challenges to overcome. A lot of famous teachers are former prodigies who didn’t have to struggle to play the instrument, and they are frankly unsure how to approach some problems. My own experience allows me to creatively find solutions to whatever difficult problems may be encountered, and conquer them! I am sure I can make a difference for you as well!
Reviews
Simon is a great value for anyone looking to learn or improve their piano playing. It's important to choose a high quality teacher and he has the experience to help you at any level.
I havent been with Simon long, but he has a passion not only for teaching piano but also for helping his students with what they need to make progress. There is great value in Simon’s work ethic and attention to the student’s need. Very highly recommended!
Simon is an incredible teacher! Not only is he an exceptionally talented and knowledgeable pianist, but he’s also a dedicated instructor who challenges his students to reach their full potential. His insightful guidance and the focus on student’s progress, make the learning experience both rewarding and motivating. After just a few lessons, I’ve already noticed how refining my technique has made playing feel much more effortless. He’s very responsive, generous with his time, and encourages questions throughout the week, which has been so helpful in my learning!
I had my first lesson with Simon and it was great. He was attentive and gave great tips. For a beginner player he made it enjoyable and was patient with me. He also provided me with great resources I can use for self study. I would reccomend him to any player regardless of skill level.
A great teacher that shows passion for his craft and enthusiasm for his students’ progress. Goes well above and beyond what is expected.
Wonderful experience and an excellent instructor. Highly recommend.
Simon is a great piano teacher! He is patient and breaks down the music into sections so that you can understand the piece in a different light. He teaches beyond the notes and focuses on helping you become a better musician while you're learning the piece. My technique has greatly improved while learning under Simon. We are currently working on Chopin's Revolutionary Etude. I can only dream to one day be as great a pianist as Simon. I feel I made an excellent choice in choosing him as my piano teacher, and I plan to continue learning from him for years to come. The cost is well worth the benefit.
Simon is a great teacher, he offers more insights than just fingering and tempo. He watches your hands and body movements which is critical to performance level playing. He pays attention to musicality in addition to technical chops. I’m thoroughly enjoying learning with him.
I've only had 1 lesson so far but I can tell he's very knowledgeable and very fair. He clearly is an expert in piano and does not teach like a robot. He obviously is passionate about helping students who want to learn.
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Philadelphia/Online Piano With Yale Graduate★ 5.0
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